March 04, 2011

Life and Style Tips Inspired by Sophia Loren

Sophia Loren's beauty, confidence, talent, strength and wisdom make her one of my primary role models.

Life Tips

“Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical.”

Beauty is as much cultivated as it is natural. A deeply spiritual friend once told me that "Love is a state of mind so seek it from introspection, not outside sources." I believe the same is true of beauty and Sophia is an exemplar.

"After all these years, I am still involved in the process of self-discovery. It's better to explore life and make mistakes than to play it safe. Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life"

Life gets boring if you stop being curious or coloring outside the lines. Pain is sometimes a consequence, but a full life includes risks.

"I've never tried to block out the memories of the past, even though some are painful. I don't understand people who hide from their past. Everything you live through helps to make you the person you are now."

"Sex appeal is fifty percent what you've got and fifty percent what people think you've got."

I don't think this quote applies exclusively to sex appeal. It's about how your attitude, especially towards yourself, can influence your interactions with the rest of the world.

"Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with great inner drive, go so much further than people with vastly superior talent"

Be confident in your ambitions, especially if you want others to feel the same way.

Style Tips:

*Smokey or winged eyes add great drama to the face

*So do dark, arched eyebrows.

*The real secret to a smoldering gaze is the aforementioned "50% you think you've got."

*Be aware of your body language-- it communicates more than words.

*You don't need to smile to look good in pictures, but be expressive with your face.

*Be unique and don't fight your own features. Sophia was not the girl-next-door type popular in the 1950s when her career broke out. Nor was she Twiggy-esque in the 1960s when her success continued. *Be true to your style, but don't get in a rut. Sophia always has her signature "tigers' eyes" while trying different hairstyles.

*Don't just cultivate beauty, cultivate yourself. Sophia is more than gorgeous and self-confident, she's intelligent, strong and talented.

Do you have any thoughts on Sophia or self-confidence in general?

heart,

--m

ps: When all else fails and you can't find that special "50%", listen to the Isley Brothers' "Who's that Lady" on headphones while power-walking down the street and believing it was written for you.

I've always thought Sophia Loren was one of the most beautiful women in the world! Her eyes... just stunning. What I never noticed before is how unique she looks in each picture - she was somewhat of a style chameleon don't you think? Always able to change it up! Thanks for this post. Following you now :)